Carbonizing apparatus



Patented @ein 26, i926@ entran stares innata narrar carica.

WJLTER CARL EDUARD DOMNCK, 0F ALTONA, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE FIRMDEUTSCHE VEREOHLUNGS- @a DESTILLATIONSGESELLSCBEAFT MIT BESCHRNKTERHAFTUNG', OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

CARBONIZING' APPARATUS.

Application lediruly 1i, 1924Seria1 No. 726,020, and in Germany December29, 1923.

The present invention refers to a furnace for distilling or expellingvolatile Inatters from fuel of any description more particularly peat.The apparatus comprises a series of retorts which are preferablyarranged in an elliptical order within a charnber which is common toall, the main object being to construct a furnace or this kind which canbe operated with the least costs possible. The retorts for the sake offractionation can be subdivided into zones or groups, the fractionationbeing carried out by a special system of pipes. This system of pipes isso arranged, that the gases of medium value produced Within the retortsas well as the gases of high value, and also the gases which are notcombustible and therefore of: least value are separated from oneanother, and the gases of medium value are used for heating the furnaceby being introduced into the common heating chamber, so as to be burnttherein. Having passed a certain number of retorts, that is to say theretorts in which gases of high value and also those in which gases ofmedium value are produced, the g-ases of combustion are cooled down to acertain extent, and then are introduced into the next following retorts,in which they remain to expel all watery constitutents, the gases of`combustion being no -more hot enough to chemically decompose thematerial. invention is based on theunderstanding, that the gases of highValue are created at a higher temperature and the Poor gases at a lowertemperature, which are used for operating the iiurnace, and finally thatwhen having passed the retorts producing valua-v ble gas the gases ofproduction are cooled down to such an extent that they can be safelybrought in contact with the fuel being carbonized. l/Vith this object inView the system oi? pipes is so constructed, that every single retortcan be connected with every longitudinal pipe of the system, and alsocan be disconnected at will. In' this case a plurality 'of' retortsstanding one behind the other can be connected to groups which areindependent from the other re torts or groups oflsuch, andthe diversgroups will then be connected. with` the pipes in different manner, soas to lead away the noncondensed gases of variousv composition.

This

In the drawing Fig. l is a diagrammatically vertical section of thefurnace the divers retorts being shown in one row for better explainingand understanding the invention, and

- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the fur# and b for leading away thegases produced and a third pipe @that may be considered a return-pipe.These three pipes are adapted to be connected with the retorts in asuitable manner as will be. more fully explained below. The pipe aserves'for leading the gases of high value to a reservoir while passingcoolers d. The longitudinal pipe leads gases of less value tothereservoir g also passing 'coolers al. This reservoir g is connected withthe longitudinal pipe c by a branch pipe o. Means are vprovided forconnecting the longitudinal pipe 0 with any one oi' the retorts.

The connection of the pipes a and b with the divers retorts will becarried out by ver-y tical pipes h which are connected with these'twofpipes in any desired manner inthe connections ot' which valves z'and i respectively are arran ed..y A branch pipe 7c con-V nects thevertica 'pipe ivvith the neighbouring retort leading down to its bottomand the branch' pipe c connects the vertical pipe with the nextfollowing retort leading up to its top. In these branch pipes there arealso valves m and m. Caps or covers nmay close the upper end of everyvertical pipe .which opens out into the atmosphere when the cap isremoved or opened. The lower end of the vertical pipe reaches down into`a vessel o, so as to accumulate. the condensed tarry `substances fromthe gases passing through the vertical pipe. The tarry substancesaccumulated in this vessel at the tili- The system of pipes vfor thefui'-, nace consists ot two longitudinalpipes 0L4 same time form a sealfor this pipe. Above v the vessels o the vertical pipes h have .branchesp, which generally are closed by caps n', By flexible pipes g any of thebranch pipes p can be `connected with. the

longitudinal pipe c at will. Below every retort. there is a secondvessel o into which projects a drain-pipe o2 connected with the bottomof the retort to allow the liquids of condensation of the retort to bedrained. It remains to remark, that moreover pipes r are provided whichopen out into the common chamber of the battery next to every retortwithout however being connected with the retort itself, but the lowerend of these pipes is adapted to be connected with the branch pipe p ofthe vertical pipe It, after removing the cap n', by a flexible pipe g.The said vessels o and o and their contents serving at the same time asa seal may also be called safety valves.

In the construction shown the heating chamber s, which'is common to allretorts, has openings u on top, which are normally closed by sand sealsu, but may serve to make communication by a connecting pipe 'u with anair pipe or channel w having similar openings a also normally closed.Into the air channel w atmospheric air is forced by a blower y of anyknown construction. Thus by connectingr any opening z of the channel wwith an opening u of the heating chamber s compressed air can be driveninto the chamber at any place desired.

Theoperation of the furnace is as fol lows:

In the position of the valves shown it is taken, that the retort liscompletely out of action and therefore can be charged with the fuel tobe distilled. To put this retort out of action the valves z', z", m, mbelonging to the retort are closed, so that neither gas can escape fromthis retort into the longitudinal pipes nor any gas from any pipe canenter the retort. In other res ects by the positions of the valves theurnace is so subdivided, that the retorts 2 and 3 form one group, theretorts 4, 5 and 6 form the second group, the retorts 7, 8 and 9 formthe third group, and the retorts 10, l1 and 12 form the fourth'group. Bytheiiexible pipe g the pipe c is connected with the branch pipe p of thefirst vertical pipe h after removing itscap n. The valve mof the branchpipe lc leading to the retort 2 is opened as well as that leading totheretort 3, while the branch pipe k leading to the retort 4 1s closed. Thevalves m in the branch pipes c leading to the retorts 2 and 3 areopened. Consequently gas from the reservoir g passes through the pipesc', c and the ilexible pipe q into the lower end of the vertical pipe Land by the corresponding branch pipe c into the retort 2, where it isheated by the heat still prevailingin the retort, and at the same timecools down the contents of this retort. The retort 2 is also cooled fromoutside by air entering the heating chamber s by the openinguvintermediate of the retortsl and 2, this opening u being connectedwith the next opening .e of the channel w by a pipe connection o. Thegases passing through the retort 2 are then led on by the correspondingpipes if: and lo into the retort 3, and finally are led from this retortby way of the branch pipe lc, belonging to the last named retort intothe lower part of the corresponding vertical pipe h. `F rom the branchpipe p ofthe last named vertical pipe k the cap ln is removed, and thisbranch pipe connected with the neighbouring pipe 'r by the fiexible pipeg', so that the gases heated by the contents of the retorts 2 and 3can'here enter the heating chamber s, where they are ignited, whencontacting or mixing with the air, that has entered the heating chambers intermediate of the retorts 1 and 2 by the pipe 1J as described above,the air being preheated by4 having passed the retorts 2 and 3. Theflames contactwith the retorts 4, 5 and 6 of the second group. Thevalves m and m intermediate of the retorts 4 'and 5 are open, and alsothe next following valve m is then opened, while the valve m ofthe pipelc leading into the retort 7 is closed. The vertical pipe 'L between theretorts 6 and 7 is connected with the pipe a by the corresponding valvei and of all the valves belonging to the pipe a this is the only onethat is open, so that the gases which are developed in the retorts 4, 5and 6 escaping) from one retort to the other are finally led y the saidopen valve z' of the pipe a into this pipe. Since the retorts 4, 5 and 6receive the greatl!) est heat the gases developed in this second groupare those of highest value, therefore by way of pipe a they are led intothe reservoir f passing through the cooler d. Any liquids ofcondensation that might condense 105 are drained into vats t. In thethird group the retorts 7, 8 and 9 develop gases of minor value, sincethe gases of combustion washing round these retorts, though still hot,are no longer burning with iiames. Here 11@ also the valves m and mbetween the retorts 7 and 8 and V8 and 9 are open, and also the valve ofthe branch pipe k leading away from the retort 9 is open, while thevalve m of the branch pipe lo leading to the retort 111' 10 is closed.The corresponding vertical pipe h communicateswith the pipe b by thecorresponding open valve z", all other valves i of this'pipe bbeingclosed Consequently the gases developed in the retorts 120 7, 8 and9 of less value pass into the pipe b and from here into the reservoir gpreparatory to being used according to need in the plant. Thesev gasesalso pass coolers d allowing liquids of condensation to enter vats 1251t below these coolers.

The gases of least value,l which are developed in the retorts 10, 11'and 12 ofthe fourth group will be allowed to escapemto the atmosphereeither by the corresponding vertical pipes 7L being all open on top, oronly the vertical pipe of the last retort .having its cap n removed, soas to allow the vin these lastfnamed retorts 10, V1l` and 12 the gasesof combustion, having been cooled down by passing the retorts 7, 8 and 9suiiiciently, are non7 led into one of the retorts 10, l1 or l2, say theretort 10. This object in view all retorts have openings .'12 o n topnormally closed by sand seals yTo connect the retort 10 with the heatingchamber .a its opening aI after removing its seal is connected with thenext opening u of the heating chamber s by a connecting pipe c.Thereupon part of the gases of combustion enter the retort 10 from aboveand force their way through the fuel within, heating this fuel withoutdecomposing it on account of being sufliciently cooled. From the retortl() the gases are led by its outlet pipe c and by the inlet pipe 7u ofthe retort l1 into this retort, and in similar manner also into theretort l2 heating the contents and driving out the watery constituents.Finally by way of the outlet pipe lc and the vertical pipe it ofthe lastnamed retort l2 the gases escape into the atmosphere, the cap n of thisvertical pipe h being removed and the corresponding valve m beingclosed.

`When the furnace has been worked for a certain length of time in themanner described above, during which time the retort l has been emptiedand charged anew, the position of the valves has to be changed, so as toallow the chamber l to be included into the circuit andthe char'nber 2to be shunted olf, while for the divers groups one of the retorts is cutout of one group and connected with the next following group. Also theflexible pipes g and q will be taken away, and used for makingconnection with the next following pipe, so that the operation of thecomplete plant will be shifted further for one single retort. In theposition of 'the valves shown the heating commences between the retorts3 and 4, air entering by the opening-u intermediate of the retorts 1 and2 as has been explained above.

Normally open doors or slides y are provided in the heating chamber sintermediate every two retorts, one, preferably `between the last retortand that being emptied and recharged, being closed as shown.

Lclaim:

l. A carbonizing apparatus, comprising, a series of closed retorts, aheating chamber common to all the retorts, a gas reservoir, a firstsystem of pipes connected to each retort and arranged to convey gas ofhigh value produced in the retorts into the gas reservoir, a secondsystem of pipes connected to said first system to separately convey gasof lower value produced in the retorts to the common heating chamber,and valves in the systems of pipes for connecting the retorts inconsecutive order with the two systems of pipes.

2. A carbonizing apparatus, comprising a series of closed retorts, aheating chamber common to all the retorts, high and low value gasreservoirs, two longitudinal pipes each communicating with one of thereservoirs and each connected withvany of the retorts, a` thirdlongitudinal pipe connected with the low value gas reservoir, and meansfor connecting the third pipe with the retorts.

3. A carbonizing apparatus comprising, a series of closed retorts, aheating chamber common to all the retorts, a high value gas reservoirand a low value gas reservoir, two longitudinal pipes each communicatingwith one of the reservoirs, means to connect the pipes with'any of theretorts,a third longitudinal pipe connected with the reservoir for gasof low value, means to connect the third pipe with any of the retorts, avertical pipe `for every retort, branch pipes on each vertical pipe, oneof which leads to the bottom of one retort and the other of which leadsto the top of the next following retort, and valves in the branch pipes.

4. A carbonizing apparatus comprising, a series of closed retorts, aheating chamber common to all the retorts, a high value gas reservoirand a low value gas reservoir, two longitudinal pipes each communicatingwith one of the reservoirs, means to connect the pipes with any of theretorts, a third longitudinal pipe connected with the reservoir for gasof low value, means rto connect the third pipe with any of the retorts,a Avertical v pipe for every retort, branch pipes on each vertical pipe,one of which leads to the bottom of one retort andthe other of whichleads to the top of the next following retort, valves in the branchpipes, the upper end of each .vertical pipe being open to atmosphere,means to close such' upper ends, a vessel for cach vertical pipe, thelower end of each vertical pipe dipping to the bottom of its vessel.

5. A carbonizing apparatus comprising, a series of closed retorts, aheating chamber common to all the retorts, a high value gas reservoirand a lovvvalue gas reservoir, two longitudinal pipes each communicatingwith one of the reservoirs, means to connect each of the pipes with anyof the retorts, a third longitudinal pipe connected with thev reservoirfor as of low value, means to connect the thir pipe with any of theretorts, a vertical pipe for each retort, branch pipes on each verticalpipe, one branch pipe leading :sol

to the bottom of one retort and the other branch pipe leading to the topof the next following retort, control Valves in the branch pipes, theupper end of each vertical-pipe being open to atmosphere, means to closesuch upper end, a first vessel for each vertical pipe into which thelower end of the Vertical pipe dips to the bottom, a second Vessel undereach retort, a drain pipe projecting from each retort and reaching tothe bottom of its second vessel, the first and second vessels formingseals due to condensed tarry substances running down the vessel pipes.

6. A carbonizing apparatus comprising, a series of closed retorts, aheating chamber common to all the retorts, two reservoirsv and twolongitudinal pipes communicating with said reservoirs respectively forhigh and low value gas, means to connect each of the pipes with 'any ofthe retorts, a third lonitudinal pipe connected with the reservoir orgas of low'value, means to connect the third pipe with any of theretorts, a vertical pipe for each retort,ibranch pipes onfeach Verticalpipe, one branch pipe leading to the bottom' of one retort and the otherbranch pipe leading to the top of the next following retort, controlValves in the branch pipes, a third branch on each of the verticalpipes, and means to connect it either with the third longitudinal pipeor with the common chamber, and a closure means for the third branch.

-7. A furnace comprising, a plurality of retorts, a common heatingchamber for the retorts, means for separating gases evolved of highervalue from gases of lower value, means for separately accumulating thesegases, and means for using the gases of lower value for heating saidretorts.

8. A furnace for distilling fuel, comprising, a plurality of retorts, aheating chamber common to said retorts, means to force fresh air throughthe chamber, means to introduce gases of combustion and to guide thesegases around the retorts for producing gas of value, and meanstointroduce the combustion gases into the next following retorts of lowertemperature so as to directly heat the material therein for producingmerely watery vaporous constituents.

9. A carbonizing apparatus comprising, a'

series of 4retorts, a heating chamber common to all the retorts, areservoir, systems of pipes to separately convey high value gas producedin the retorts into the reservoir,l

and low valuegas into the heating chamber, valves in the systems ofpipes for connecting the retorts in consecutive order with the systems'of pipes, an air channel, a blower for forcing air into the air channel,means to connect the air channel with the heating chamber, and means toconnect the heating -chamber with any of the retorts.

10. A distilling furnace comprising, a se- I'iesof retorts, a heatingchamber common to all the retorts, high and low value gas reservoirs,two longitudinal pipes each communicating with one of the reservoirs,means to connect the pipes with any of the retorts, a third longitudinalpipe connected with the reservoir for gas of low value, means to connectthe third pipe with the retorts, an air channel, ablower for forcing air-into the air channel, means' to connect the air channel with theheating chamber, and means to connect the heating chamber with any ofthe retorts.

11. A carbonizing apparatus comprising, a series of retorts, a heatingchamber come mon to all the retorts, high and low value .gas reservoirs,two longitudinal pipes each communicating with a reservoir, means toconnect the pipes with any of the retorts, a third longitudinal pipeconnected with the reservoir for as of low value, means to connect thethin? pipe with any of the retorts, a Vertical' pipe for each retort,branch pipes on each vertical pipe one branch pipe leading to the bottomof one retort and another branch pipe leading to the top of the nextfollowing retort, valves in the branch pipes, an air channel, a blowerfor forcing air into the air channel, means to connect the air channelwith the heating chamber, and means to connect the heating chamber withany of the retorts.

12. A carbonizing apparatus comprising, a series of retorts, a heatingchamber common to all the retorts, high and low value gas reservoirs,two longitudinal pipes each communicating with a reservoir, means toconnect each ipe with any of the retorts, a third lon itu inal pipeconnected with the reservoir or gas of low value, means to connect thethird pipe with any of the retorts, a vertical pipe for each retort,branch pipes on each vertical pipe one branch pipe leading to the bottomof one retort and another branch pipe leading to the top of the nextfollowing retort, valves in the branch ipes, the upper end of eachvertical pipe eing open to atmosphere, means for closing these upperends, a vessel for each vertical pipe4 and receivina each the lower endof a Verti- 4cal pipe reaching to the bottom of .the vessel,

